Wiring outlets for Welder and Compressor

[mattd39]

Hi Everyone,

I wired a 60A subpanel in my garage and now working on the receptacles for all my future tools. I will be purchasing the following welder and compressor.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-30-Gallon-Portable-Electric-Vertical-Air-Compressor/3824207

https://www.lowes.ca/welding/lincoln-electric-240-volt-mig-flux-cored-wire-feed-welder_g1559531.html

The compressor will be wired for 240V 20A using a 6 20 receptacle.

The welder comes with a 6-50 plug yet the picture on the box shows a 230V 20A outlet. This is weird however this is a quote from Miller

Quote

"We actually recommend a 30 amp breaker for the MM180. It has a 50 amp style plug on it in an effort to keep the plugs on our machines consistent. You could wire a 50 amp receptical to your 30 amp service, the plug will just be oversized for the application. We do not make any off the shelf pigtails to go from the 50 amp style plug to the 30 amp style plug, you would half to make one"

David Miller
Service Technician

Anyways, I have a 30A dual pole breaker and 19 meters of 10/3 wire for the two outlets.

Here is my question. I believe the 10/3 wire is correct for the 6 50 receptacle but has one to many wires for the 6 20 receptacle. Can I put a wire cap on the white wire in the 6 20 box to correct this problem?

Second questions. Can I pig tail in the 6 50 box? then continue into the 6 20 box?

The compressor and welder will be the only appliances on this circuit. I thought this would be okay considering I won't be using both tools at the same time.

Thanks,

 

[PoorOwner]

The nema 6-50 and 6-20 are both 3 wire (hot hot ground)
the correct cable to use is 10/2 (it means 2 hot with ground)

There should not be any pigtailing, they should each have their own breaker and cables

 

[sberry]

I know its hard to believe and hard to tell from the post not all the techs are familiar with the intricacy of code.
The 180 or 210 is rated to run on circuits to 50A provided the wire is 12 or better. It must be limited to 30 if it is used with the minimum wire size of number 14. It won't hurt anything to limit it to 30 and the 10 wire gives these little machines all the help it can.

 

[PT Doc]

You could run the 10/3 and cap of the white wire in the end junction box. Could prove to be useful in the future if you needed a 120v circuit in that location.

 

[Norcal]

You could run the 10/3 and cap of the white wire in the end junction box. Could prove to be useful in the future if you needed a 120v circuit in that location.

Why waste money? You cannot use a 15 or 20A receptacle on a 30A circuit.

 

[driftpin]

Just had the electricians wire my new garage, all done in 10 ga for three separate 240 V circuits, and three separate GFCI protected 120 V circuits, one for each wall. Pretty-happy that it's all-done. Not a big shop, the max. size allowed under onerous zoning restrictions.

And to help protect the property, I have LED flood lights, and I ran a 3/4" pvc conduit for data cable, for cameras.

The 10 ga. circuits should allow me flexibility, the building has a 100 amp sub-panel from the dwelling, which also got its service replaced with a new 200 amp weatherhead, main disconnect, meter can, branch circuit panel, and grounds.

 

[mattd39]

Thanks for all the responses. I've decided to follow PoorOwner's advance and buy the proper 10/2 wire and wire each the welder and compressor to their own breaker. The problem is I'm left with 19 meters of 10/3 that cannot be returned because it was cut from a spool. I don't want this to go to waste and would like to know if there is any machine or receptacle/circuit setup where I could use this? Maybe a plasma cutter or something that requires tons of power.

thanks,

 

[sberry]

You can use it, just a waste to buy it with the extra in mind. Cap the white. It isn't going to save any money buying 2 conductor to replace it.
What compressor do you have and did it come with a factory cord and plug? May be able to use the same as a welder depending on size.

 

[sberry]

if you want a plasma it could share a welder outlet but,,,,, if this is to be a real garage the air comp should be on ite own wire and circuit. Plugging and unplugging something like that is a pain and there may be reasons to want to tailor the circuit.

 

[pattenp]

If you bought the wire from a big box store they will usually take it back even if cut from a roll. If it came from an electrical supplier then you're out of luck.

 

[PT Doc]

You could run the 10/3 and cap of the white wire in the end junction box. Could prove to be useful in the future if you needed a 120v circuit in that location.

Why waste money? You cannot use a 15 or 20A receptacle on a 30A circuit.

The op stated he has the wire. So it would not be a waste of money to use the 10/3 and cap the unneeded wire. It would be a waste of money to discard this wire and but 10/2.

Is it not allowed to cap off an unneeded wire?

 

[Bert_]

The OP said the wire he has was cut, so there isn't going to be any returns.

There is no issues using the 10/3 and simply capping the extra wire. Don't plan on using the white wire for a future 120v circuit though, several issues with that idea...

Neither a 50a or 20a recept is legal to put on a 30A circuit. There are some exceptions for welders but generally those allow you to install wire that is smaller than normally allowed for a breaker, and that isn't what we are talking about.

I wouldn't have much of a problem installing the 50a recept since the breaker is sized to the wire and in my opinion poses a minimal risk. I would NOT install a 20a recept on that 30A circuit though.

Either wire this right or forget about it...

 

[NUTTSGT]

Do you have an electric dryer or water heater ? You never know when you might need to rewire or move something. Hang on to the wire for future use, you never know when you might need it.

 

[sberry]

U can put a 50a recept on 30 for a welder.

 

[arkieguide]

I run my 220 welder 50 amp receptacle fed with 10/3 wg - separate circuit with 30 amp breaker. My ac is fed separate with own feed and circuit breaker. May as well try to do it right - good luck.